Glossary: Perfumery Terms

A product obtained through an extraction with volatile solvents. This technique was developed in the early 20th century. Absolutes belong to the rare and precious raw materials family. For instance, in the case of a Turkish rose, one requires 900kg of petals to obtain one kilo of absolute. Absolutes helped promote French perfumery during the inter-war years but their use is now very limited.

A blend of a minimum of two fragrant materials leading to a specific olfactory outcome.

Notes presenting "animal" facets give a unique sensuality to perfumes. From animal or plant, these materials (musk, castoreum, civet, ambergris, ambrette seeds…) are often forbidden and replaced by synthetic materials, mainly to protect the animal species.

A blend of several raw materials including synthetic molecules. Bases were formulated by perfume laboratories in the 1940s and 1950s to help perfumers when composing new fragrances. Those short compositions can be a reproduction of flowers, like jasmine, or abstract like the famous Prunol by Delaire, a delicious smell of candied plum. The latter was used by Edmond Roudnistka in Femme by Rochas.

Those notes that are the most persistent in perfumes. They form the foundation upon which the whole composition rests. They can last a few days and form the long-lasting “imprint” of the fragrance. They are also the most sensual notes, which allow the perfume to merge with the skin. Base notes are spicy, woody, amber or musk.

Citrus perfumes are compositions based on lemon, orange, bergamot, grapefruit or mandarin.